“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt”—Ella Fitzgerald

Marilyn and Ella at Mocambo Club, 1955

Glamour and gangs defined the Sunset Strip between the 1930s and the 1950s, as its renowned restaurants and nightclubs became a playground for the rich and famous. There were movie legends and power brokers, and everyone of significance danced to stardom at such legendary clubs as Ciro’s, the Mocambo and the Trocadero.

Mocambo Nightclub, 1950s

Frank Sinatra made his Los Angeles debut at Mocambo in 1943, and it was frequented by the likes of Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lana Turner.

The Mocambo nightclub at 8588 Sunset Boulevard—a whites-only club—was the most popular dance spot around but would not book Ella Fitzgerald because she was black. Marilyn Monroe, who was one of Ella’s biggest fans, called the owner and demanded that they book Ella immediately. Marilyn told them that she would sit at the front table every night that Ella performed, which would give the Mocambo great publicity, due to Marilyn’s superstar status at the time. Who could say no? Marilyn appeared there every night. The press went crazy.

Marilyn and Ella would remain close friends until Marilyn’s death.
“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”